Spa cover

Abstract

A spa cover is described and which includes a first and second portion which are hingedly mounted together; an elongated sleeve is mounted on the second portion of the spa cover; and a rigid conduit is telescopingly mounted and enclosed within the internal passageway of the sleeve, and which has a length dimension which is less than the length dimension of the elongated sleeve.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A spa cover, comprising:
 a first portion which is operable to partially cover an underlying spa, and which is defined, at least in part, by a peripheral edge;   a second portion which is operable to partially cover the underlying spa, and which is defined, at least in part, by a peripheral edge which is hingedly affixed to the peripheral edge of the first portion;   an elongated sleeve mounted on the second portion and which is located in adjacent, spaced, substantially parallel relationship relative to the peripheral edge which is defined by the first portion of the spa cover, and which further defines a longitudinally extending internal passageway, and wherein the elongated sleeve has a given length dimension; and   a rigid conduit telescopingly mounted within the internal passageway of the sleeve and which has a length dimension which is less than the length dimension of the elongated sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a lifting member having a proximal and a distal end, and wherein the rigid conduit has opposite, first and second ends, and a channel which extends between the first and second ends, and wherein the proximal end of the lifting member is telescopingly received, at least in part, within the channel which is defined by the rigid conduit, and within the internal passageway which is defined by the sleeve, and wherein the distal end of the lifting member is located outside of the sleeve.   
     
     
         3 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 2 , and wherein the sleeve has opposite ends, and further includes a pair of selectively closable, longitudinally extending openings which are formed in the sleeve, and which are individually located in adjacent, spaced relation relative to the opposite ends of the sleeve, and wherein, when the respective longitudinally extending openings are opened, the first and second ends of the rigid conduit are rendered accessible. 
     
     
         4 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein a fastener is inserted through both the opposite, first and second ends of the rigid conduit, and each of the proximal ends of the respective lifting members which are telescopingly received within the internal passageway as defined by the rigid conduit when the longitudinally extending openings are open, and wherein the longitudinally extending openings are closed following the insertion of the individual fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the longitudinally extending openings are selectively closable by means of a zipper. 
     
     
         6 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the longitudinally extending openings are selectively closable by means of a hook and loop type fastener. 
     
     
         7 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the longitudinally extending openings are selectively closable by means of snap fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the sleeve is fabricated from a flexible substrate which resists degradation due to exposure to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         9 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the sleeve is fabricated from a rigid substrate which resists degradation due to exposure to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         10 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the lifting member has a curved shape, at least in part. 
     
     
         11 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the rigid conduit cannot be readily removed from the internal passageway which is defined by the sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the rigid conduit longitudinally rotates within the internal passageway as defined by the sleeve when the spa cover is removed from an underlying spa. 
     
     
         13 . A spa cover, comprising:
 a first and second portion which are hingedly mounted together along a predetermined peripheral edge, and wherein the first portion is moveable relative to the second portion so as to be located in juxtaposed, substantially parallel relationship, one with the other, and wherein the first and second portions are moveable, in unison, when located in the juxtaposed, parallel relationship, along a given path of travel so as to be positioned in non-occluding relationship relative to an underlying spa, and wherein the first and second portions of each have a top surface;   a sleeve mounted on the top surface of the second portion, and which is located adjacent to the peripheral edge, and which further has opposite ends, and wherein the sleeve further includes a pair of selectively closable, longitudinally extending openings which are formed in the sleeve, and which are individually located in adjacent, spaced relation relative to the opposite ends of the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve has a given length dimension when measured between the opposite ends; and   a rigid, elongated conduit which is telescopingly mounted within the internal passageway of the sleeve, and which further has a length dimension which is less than the length dimension of the elongated sleeve, and which further has opposite, first and second ends, and wherein the rigid elongated conduit cannot be readily removed from the internal passageway, and is further, freely longitudinally rotatable within the internal passageway which is defined by the sleeve, and wherein, when the respective longitudinally extending openings of the sleeve are opened, the first and second ends of the rigid conduit are rendered accessible.   
     
     
         14 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a pair of lifting member each having a proximal and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of each of the respective lifting members individually telescopingly cooperate with the respective first and second ends of the elongated conduit, and are received in the internal passageway which is defined by the sleeve, and wherein the distal end of the lifting member is located outside of the sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 14 , and wherein a fastener is inserted through both the opposite, first and second ends of the rigid conduit, and each of the proximal ends of the respective lifting members which telescopingly cooperate together, when the longitudinally extending openings are open, and wherein the longitudinally extending openings are closed following the insertion of the individual fasteners. 
     
     
         16 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein the longitudinally extending openings are selectively closable by means of a zipper. 
     
     
         17 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein the longitudinally extending openings are selectively closable by means of a hook and loop type fastener. 
     
     
         18 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein the sleeve is fabricated from a flexible substrate which resists degradation due to exposure to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         19 . A spa cover as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein the sleeve is fabricated from a rigid substrate which resists degradation due to exposure to the ambient environment.